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190 THE CONDOR Vol. XXIl 
Clark Nutcracker and White-winged Dove in Southern California.—On a recent 
trip to the Laguna Mountains, San Diego County, I was rather surprised to find the 
Clark Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) in flocks ranging from a few birds to fifteen 
or twenty in the flock. They were on the ground, tearing up the pine needles in search 
ot food. Observed May 31 and June 1. 
It may be of interest to note that at least one pair of White-winged Doves (Melo- 
pelia asiatica trudeaui) is nesting in the vicinity (Brawley). They arrived May 4 and 
have been about until the present date, June 12.—Jonn C. Forriner, Brawley, California, 
June 12, 1920. 
Interesting Records from the San Joaquin Valley Region.— 
Costa Hummingbird. Calypte costae. On several occasions in the early spring 
inonths while collecting in the arid hills bordering the San Joaquin Valley at a point 
about due west from Dos Palos, I have found hummingbirds’ nests of the previous sea- 
son’s use, built on branches of sage bushes overhanging dry gullies. Those examined 
have all been unmistakable nests of the Costa Hummingbird and quite typical in both 
situation and construction. In fact, they differ in no way from nests of this species 
which I collected in Ventura County in’ 1916. From this evidence it would seem safe to 
extend the known breeding range of this species northward along the east slope of these 
hills nearly to the 37th Parallel. 
Hammond Flycatcher. Empidonax hammondi. An unseasonable record for this 
species is that of a male in bright plumage taken in the bottom lands of the Merced 
River near Livingston, Merced County, on December 20, 1918. The bird was frequenting 
the inclining trunks of some large, old willows in a rather damp locality. It was active 
and strong on the wing and no trace of any injury could be found while the skin was 
being made up. That this Flycatcher had been able to secure an abundance of food was 
very evident as the skin was reeking with fat. 
Dusky Warbler. Vermivora celata sordida. On January 8, 1919, I noticed three 
Warblers which looked like rather dark examples of lutescens. They were frequenting 
some weeds along a drainage canal near Atwater, Merced County. On the 11th of the 
same month I made a hurried trip to the Merced River near Irwin City, and again en- 
countered three of these birds after special search. The presence of lutescens itself 
would have been interesting at this date but I was convinced that the birds previously 
seen were sordida, and the single specimen taken has been so identified by Mr. H. 8S. 
Swarth. This species evidently wintered in some numbers in the San Joaquin Valley 
during the winter of 1918-19.—Joun G. TyLer, Turlock, California, June 30, 1920. 
Nesting of the Blue-fronted Jay in South Pasadena.—During the Christmas holi- 
days my attention was called to a number of Blue-fronted Jays (Cyanocitta stelleri 
frontalis) flying about in a row of large eucalytus trees which form a boundary between 
our place and the one next to us. The jays were very noisy and were continually chasing 
the California Woodpeckers about the trees. The jays were seen and heard, from time 
to time subsequently, which surprised me very much, for at one time I thought they 
had left for their mountain home. 
On Sunday morning, June 6, 1920, I heard a pair of birds scolding and went to 
see what the disturbance was. My presence on the scene interested the birds and they 
followed me about while I looked for a nest. I could not find a nest, but while walking 
about spied a young bird on the ground. This bird was dead’and had probably been 
killed from a fall as it was just about time for it to leave the nest. The bird was saved 
and is now in my collection. Up to the present time (July 15) the jays are still about. 
It will be interesting to see if they will be on hand next spring.—LutTurrR LirrLe, South 
Pasadena, California, July 15, 1920. 
An Ovenbird on the Mohave Desert.—At about 10:45 on the morning of May 18, 
1920, I was seated, in company with Dr. Francis B. Sumner, on a pile of bags, boxes, 
bed-rolls and other items of camp equipment which were stacked ready for transporta- 
tion from our station at 5 miles south of Lavic, San Bernardino County, California, to 
Ludlow, about fifteen miles nearer civilization. Our eyes were fixed hopefully on a 
